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J. H. WILSON.

Hm: ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

No. 325,142. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

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JOHN H. VILSON, OF CAMDEN, NEV JERSEY.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,142, dated August 25, 1885.

Application filed July 7, 188.7. (No model.)

.To all whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. VILSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, Few Jersey, have invented a certain Improved Firedseape, of which the follow'- ing is a specification.

My invention relates to that class ot' tire-escapes in which a sliding block is combined with a rope, and in which the weight of the body automatically locks the device, to prevent the descent of the person using it until specially adjusted to permit such descent.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View ot' my improved fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a section on the line l 2, Fig. 2; and Fig. 3 is asection on theline 3 4, Fig. 2.

A is a sliding bloclgwhich is provided with a hook or eye, a, for theattachment of a band or other device, M, to support the body of the person using the tire-escape, and through this block passes the rope B, which is intended to be suspended at the upper part of the building and extends down to the ground. This block A is slotted transversely, and is provided with two rods or bars, E and W, the former being fixed, while the rod E is free to have a movement toward and from the rod E, to which it is adjacent. In the present instance I have shown the rod E as pivoted at c, Fig. l, and free to have a movement at the other end, but acted on by the cam-lever F, which is pivoted to the block at j', the camlever being of such a character that when its projecting outer end is pressed down by the hand of the operator the bar E will be pushed away from the bar E, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2.

From the slotted part of the block Ato opposite ends thereof extend openings /r r', through which the rope B is adapted to pass, and this rope on its way through the block passes around and between the two bars E and E. In the present instance I have shown the rope as first passing down underneath the bar E', then up and over and completely around the bar E, passing between the two bars, and then back again between the two bars and out through the opening r at the bottom; but the.

particular manner ot' arranging the ropeis not essential, so long as it passes around and between the two bars.

I prefer to provide cach bar with a guidepin,

and prevent them from lapping over and binding on each other.

It will be seen from the above that when the weight ofthe body is brought upon the block A the strain on the rope will force the lower bar, E', up toward the iixed bar E, and so grip the coils of rope between the two bars, so as to prevent the block A from sliding on the rope, and the body in the support M therefore cannot descend until the cam-lever F is pressed down by the person using the escape, so as to move it from the position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2, to the position shown by full lines, to separate or move the bar Eaway from the bar E, and leave the rope free to slide around the bars, and allow the block A, carrying the person, to descend.

It will be understood, of course, that the block A may be suspended by the hook a, or otherwise, and the person or weight to be lowered being secured to the rope B, then by a proper manipulation ofthe cam-lever F by the person at the point where the block is hung the body or other weight may be allowed to descend.

For the salie of lightness with strength and durability, I form the bars E and E' of cylindrical strips of wood having sheet-metal sheaths s over them, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the sheaths being preferably of brass, andthe ca1nlever F may also be made of wood, if desired, with a metallic facing, t, as shown in the drawings.

As a matter of convenience,and to briugthe parts in close relation to each other, Islot the end of the bar E for the reception ofthe camlever F, as shown in Fig. l, but this is not essential.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination ofa rope with a block having two bars, E and E', one fixed and the other movable toward and from the fixed bar, the said rope being passed around and between the bars, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of arope, ablock having a fixed bar, and an adjacent movable bar around and between which the rope passes, with a cam-lever to separate the two bars against the strain of the rope, substantially as described.

3. The combination ofa rope, a block having a fixed bar, a nd an adjacent bar pivoted at one p, Fig. 2, so as to separate the coils of rope IOO end to the block, with a cam-lever to separate In testimony whereof I have signed my name the two bars against the strain of the rope, to this specification in the presence of two sub- Whch passes around and between the bars, scribng Witnesses.

substantially as speoied. JOHN I-I. WILSON. 5 4. A block for a re-esca.pe,havng bars for Witnesses:

thepassage ofthe rope, said bars being of wood JOHN E. PARKER,

with sheet-metal sheathing, as set forth. HARRY SMITH. 

